Sam Kersting hadn’t touched a volleyball, worked out or run since March 2012. When the season started in August, Kersting asked Webster University volleyball coach Merry Graf if she was going to even touch the court.
Kersting was a transfer from Division-I Indiana State University, where she was mostly a bench player her freshman year. She said at Webster, it took her a week or two into the season to get back in game shape.
“My first two games were horrible,” Kersting said. “I hit a ball into the bleachers, and it was horrible. But then the next two games it was like I had never stopped playing.”
She went on to lead the Gorloks in kills (290) and led the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in hitting percentage (.363) and blocks per set (1.28). Her blocking even led her to be named a Division-III All-American third-team selection, as she was eighth in the country in blocks per set.
Kersting said she is already feeling the pressure to have another big season next year.
“It’s terrifying,” Kersting said. “My goal is just to again make first-team All-Conference, one step at a time.”
This offseason she is dedicating her training to becoming a better blocker. She believes that to be the weakest part of her game.
“That’s really where I struggle,” Kersting said. “I would like to get double-digit kills every game but that is kind of a big goal, so I would really like to get my blocks up.”
Runner-up: Rachel Franck, softball
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